Shoe-tree



J. L. SOMMER ET AL SHOE TREE Sept. 6,1927. 1, 41,935

Filed March 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIII v ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 6 v J. L. SOMMER ET AL S HOE TREE Filed March 15. 1923 2Sheets-Sheet 2 lgvENToRsd/md.

BY M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. '6, 1927.

JOHN I... YTSOIVLMERAND ennnenn BEE-EL, se ennnwen z, new messy,esfszenons T Juli SOMMEB1M AEJUFAQTU RlNG 0e, VA conronemionon NEW'Jnnsnir.

SHOE-TREE. e

\ Appli eti x d M rc 1923- s e nat 525,2 5.

: This invention reletesinigeneral to a shoe ,tree ,.1 1aving thef toemember formed of two relatively movable s ems; one object of theinvention-ibeinguto provide. novel, ime provedland simple means.forjactu'a -ting said toe sections relatively to each other to sep aratethe seid seetions when theft-r'ee is placed 7 into Cishoe and to drawsaidtoe sections together. when the tree is removed fromeshoe. 1UAnotherpbjectis.t ouprovide sucha shoe tree having it toe memberspreading device including cooperating v nenobers Lone; ffiiiedlytoggle, and, to obtainotherfiesults and ad m nt-ages, as

ma ems- 9 y ff lowing;description. I i k m Referrin to theeqcompany ng,drewing S in which the same reference characters designatecorresponding and 'like perts;

Figure l; is a side eleyaqtion of; shoetree embodying ourinvention;

Figure 2 v is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thiioughQthe se ne,vvt e kenbn the line 2+2 of Fig.= 3; i 7

Figures is a top plan,

rated; 7

vFigure 4 IS a v tree. with the sections of the toe member :too'etherendshowing the manner ofadj ustlng h u the stretching toggle; I

Figure 5 isa bottom plan .view. of; the shoe tree With'the sectionsoithe toe neinber separated, portions,being broken ajv y for clearness xinil'lustretion; I c Figure 6 is, a transverse vertical sectionalviemtaken on the line 66of Fig. 2;, 1 Figure 71 is a detachedperspective View of-oneof thespreeding plates;

' -.Figure .8 is a; trensverse sect onal vieW t iew of a shoe tree'Withthe sections of the vtoe mei nber sepe- 1 top plan View" of shoe 1dei ee ;,t 0' they tofFig.,.;4; V

Figure 10' is anenlerged fragmentary side eievetion of one of the linksof -the',s tretohmg toggle showing the. adjusting stud in opel etiyeposition, and i F guretll is 2t. similar yiew showing the Listingthelength oftlietpggle; r Y InQthle' specifie ,nibodin entof theinvention sh'own onv the drawings .the' reference I ,cherecterffii,designate 't etoe neinbjer of te shoe tree which"isllongitudineilydivided of w ood ssi df toe line nhereheing" connected 7 byestretchingtoggle B te, eheelmen ber G. ""E ech of the toejs'ectionslend 2 carries a spreadingInieinher or platefl3 which' are shown fixedlymounted in recessesvg i formed in theedjecent faces of the toeseC-.ti'on's thelpletesj being connectedto the toe sections of pins or', thelike 5. N0 n oyenient ofthesep le tes 3, eltch with re- 'spectl to itstoe sectiph is required by my ;i1i 1p' 1;o ed constiguctioii tshereinafter deeribe l e e r,fi nec "a tio n to thetoe seetions.

I The s pnea 8 v p eje later l y ro th'efadj ecentifeees of the toesections 1 and 2 ver1'1p1 i 1gf relation, as clearly shown in end by 21pinend slot eonneotionti whereby unoveinent bf ille ulfetes toward andaway from "each: other] end relative longitudinal Qewirem there Pos tiylimit Each o'f the pistes 8 is pi'oyided edja'cent its -"h ;er'endtidfits teredge with a slot 7 e g'ed lon i t'ud 11y diagonal of thecoresp'on'ding toe SQCLlQh, said siots normally iving eachotheiz'ctuating dev ceis shdehly and pivot Figure 9 ise similar yiemtelgen onthe adjusting studintheposition, essunied when 7 and thus t e es nie detight "or in Figures;2,, 8end6, iiidfare conneeted atoneelvy,eonileCt'ed tojseid plates 3, said actuzitdevice comprising a s1ide 8 preferably for ed of sheet {metal with ts edges turned ,up ardly ;3IlCi -;i 1 &ilhg ;a P111 9 mounted ffghereinrandjextendinp; through theslots 7 the said, pin being, provided at its'ends with Th edsto ,pe1nan,e1 t1y connect the actuating roiighlsa id upturned edges or 'eersof the slide and the link it The said link forms one part oi thestretching toggle l) and is pivotally connected at its other end to one.end oi anotl link 12 by means oil a pin 1?) rigidly connected to thelink and passing througil a slot Ll; in the link if). The other end oithe link 12 carries the heel member C which may be in the term ot asubstantially spherical block of wood or the like.

With this construction movcn'ient of the slide #5 and pin 5),COllSi'li'lttlllg the actuating device, longitudinally of the toe membercauses the toe sections 1 and 2 to be mover toward or from each otheraccording to the direction of movement of the actuating device throughthe engagement of the pin 5) with the slots T. and 2 may be separated asthe shoe tree is placed in a shoe, and the pivot pin 9 permits the toesections to adjust then'iselrcs to conform to the interior walls of thetoe portion of the shoe. llhen the shoe tree is withdrawn from a shoethe toe sections are drawn toward each other to permit easy relnt 'al ofthe tree. It will he noted that the separating oi the toe sections takesplace simultaneously with the extension of the strctchii'lg toggle B sothat the shoe is siinultaneously stretched both longitudinally andlaterally. During the separating and drawing together of the toesections 1 and :2 the plates slide upon one another so as to reentorcethe spreading device and prevent the same trom becoming bent or twistedduring; the stretching operation. The adjacent tacos oi the toe sectionsare recessed as at to receive the edges of the opposite plate 3 and theactuating device when the too sections are drawn together. The outer endof the link 10 is termed with the usual linger piece 16 for actuatingthe toggle and locking the same with the shoe tree in a shoe.

The invention also contemplates an impiored adjusting means for thestretching toggle l3. Said adjusting means is shown on the drawings ascomprising an adjusting stud 1T rigidly connected at one end to one endof a spring strip 18 the other end oi which rigidly connected to thepivotstud 17', the said stud 17 projecting through a slot 19 in the link12 which comprises a plurality ot substantially circular openings 20connected by narrower slots :21. The inner portion of the stud 17 issubstantially circular in cross-section and ot a diameter slightly lessthan the diameter of the openingis 20, as indicated at- Q-l, while theouter end ot the stud is cut away at opposite sides as at to leave aneck 23 of a thickness slightly less than the width 01 the slots 21. Theextremity of the stud is provided with a finger piece 25.

The spring strip 18 normally holds the stud in such a position that thecylindrical Thus, the toe sections 1' portion is positioned in one ofthe openings. Longitiuliiuil relative movement of the links 10 and 12 otthe stretching toggle is thus prevented. llhen it is desired to adjustthe length oi the toggle B, the stud l? is pressed by the linger oi theoperator against the action ot the spring 18 to remove the cylindricalportion 24-. from the opening it) and produce registry of the flat neckwith the slot 21, as indicated in Figures l, 9 and 11. The links 10 and12 are then forcibly moved by the operator in the proper direction untilthe length 01 the toggle is that desircth whereupon the stud ll isreleased and the spring 18 returns the cylinlh'ical portion into anotherof the openinos it). It will he noted that the pivot pill 13 serves bothas a pivot for the links and 1:2 and also as a guide for longi- \linaladjustment oi" said links, the slot ll permitting the link 12 to sliderelatively to the link 10.

l'i'hile. we have shown and described. the toe member of the shoe treeas formed of wood with metal plates 23 rigidly connected thereto, itwill he understood that it is within the scope of the invention to formthe v lots T direltly in the shoe tree or a projecting portion thereofcorresponding to the plates 3, and the toe portion may be formed ol"other suitable material than wood; also, the details oil' constructionof the actuzrting device and the adjusting means tor the stretchingtoggle may be modified by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. 'lherctore we do not desireto nude ,ood as limiting ourselves except as required by the followingclaims when construed in the light of the prior art.

lllavinl thus described the invention, what we claim is:

l. A shoe tree including a pair oi too sew lions each having: a portioniixcd against motion with respect to its section, such tixed portionsoverlapping each other and ha vine; slide *ays in their overlapping):portions each longitudinally diagonal of its too section and o uiositelydisposed from the other so that said slideways cross each other, and anactuating device slidalily mounted in said slideways at. their point ofcrossing so that as it moves loiuritudii'ially of the sections it moressaid lixed portions toward and troin each other to adjust the toesections A shoe tree including a pair oi toe sections each lnivilui' aportion tired against motion with respect to its section andoverlapping; a COllt pondii'u .tixcd portion of the other section, saidoverlapping portions haw Zing omiositely disposed slidewu'lys arrangedlongitudinally diagonal ot the respective toe sections and crossn'ureach other, a member siidabljr mounted in said slideways at their pointof crossing, and means tor sliding said .4 ill member when the treeis inashoe or the like.

3. A shoe tree including a pair of toe sections each having a portionfixed against motion with'respect to its section, such fixed portionsoverlappingeach other and having) tions each having. a portion fixedagainst motion with respectto its section and overlapping acorresponding fixed portion of the a other section, said overlappingportions hav- E mg oppositely disposed slots. arranged longitudinally dagonal ofthe respective toe sections and crossing each other, a memberslidably mounted msa d slots at their point of crossing, and means ,t'orsllding said memher when the tree is in a shoe or the like.

5. A shoe tree including a pair of toe sections each having a portionfixed against motion with respect to its section and overla aping acorresponding fixed portion 'ofthe ot er section, sald overlappingportions having oppositely disposed slot-s arranged lonsections andcrossing each other, andan actuating device including a slide carryingpin slidably mounted in said slots at their point of crossing to movesaid fixed portlons toward and from each other to adjust the toesections. 1

6. A shoe tree including a pair 01"- toe sections, plates embedded attheir edge portions one in each of the adjacent faces of said toesections in fixed relation thereto, said plates having projectingportions overlapping each other and having slideways oppositely obliqueto the length of the toe sections, and an actuating device slidablymounted in said Vslideways to move said plates toward and from eachother to-adjust the toe sections.

ating device slidably mounted in said'slide ways tomove said platestoward and froln each other to adjust the toe sections.

8. A shoe .tre'e including a pair of toe sections having fixed portionsoverlapping each other and slideways in said overlapping portions eachlongitudinally diagonal of its toe section and oppositely disposed fromthe other so that said slideways cross A shoe tree including a pair oftoe sec tlons each having a recess'formedm its face 7 ad acent the othersection, plates secured each other, an actuating device slidably mountedin said slideways at their point of crossing so that' as it moves longtudi- 'nally of the sections it moves'said fixed port-ions towardand'lrom each other to adjust the toesections, and a transverseextensible connection of said fixed portions for preventing relativelongitudinal movement of said toe sections. 1

9. A shoe tree including. a pair of toe sections having fixed portionsoverlapping each other and slideways in, said overlapping. portions eachlongitudinally diagonal 1 of its toe section and oppositely disposedfrom the other so that said slideways cross each other, an actuating devce shdabiy mounted in said slideways at their point ot'crossing so thatas it moves longitudinally of the sections it moves said fixed portionstoward and from each other to adjust the toe sections, and a transverseslot and pin connection of'said fixed portions for preventing relativelongitudinal movement of 7 a lon 'itud' a1 slot '11 the t1 1 link Mlgltudinally diagonal of the respectivetoe m l O 161 the links.

11. In a shoe tree having a toe member and a heel member, a pair ofoverlapping links one connected to said toe member and the otherconnected to said heel member, said links being hinged at theiroverlapping ends by a" pivot stud on one link entering a longitudinalslot in the other link, and means for adjustably positioning the pivotstud in its slot consisting of an adjusting member mounted on said pivotstud and adapted to engage the other link at a distance from its slot toprevent relative longi tudinal movement of the links.

12. In a shoe treehaving a toe member and a heel member, a pair ofoverlapping links one connected to said toe member and the otherconnected to sait heel member, said links being hinged at theiroverlapping ends by a pivot stud on one link entering a longitudinalslot in the other-link, and a resilient adjusting member mounted in thepivot stud link concentric with said stud and normally engaging theslotted member intermediate its slot and shoe-engaging member to preventrelative longitudinal movement I of the links.

:2 heel 11101117301, :1 pair of overlapping links one uin'meclml in saidtoe 1110111130 and H10 other cmmecied to said heel member, 0110 of saidlinks: having a longitudinal slut and the other 7a111'5d1'1g a pivotstud zurzmgsiwl in said slot, the slotted link also having :1 piumluxyof longitudinally spaced openings, :1 spring

